Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

The gradual buildup to the release of Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (Abrams, 2019) featured the usual blitz of media hype and commercial bombardment that the fans of the Star Wars franchise are used to. For myself, the constant reminder of the films release was a type of death note to a story that seemed to have no finality. I sat in the movie theatre with trepidation, not wanting to witness the end of a saga but also wanting to know how the saga would end. As the blast of John Williams orchestra played the resounding revelry call that is the Star Wars universe, the credits scrolled their narrative introduction, and the end had begun.

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker is not a film for fans of more thoughtfully paced character development stories but rather for those who don't mind walking a tight rope blindly for nearly two and a half hours. There are pro's and con's to both types of films but my suspicion is that for Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker the thoughtful character developments will be found upon repeated viewing of the film when one gets past the multiple action sequences. But like most (if not all) the prequels and sequels this film will offer a variety of arguments as to why it's the worst thing to ever be put onto a 90 foot wide movie theatre screen. I know I've had my own criticisms of the Star Wars films (see previous Star Wars posts) and I don't write them as some sort of protector or gatekeeper of Star Wars storytelling. What I do think happens is that inherently we know the story will end and the we want the end to be the right ending...whatever the right ending may be. We want to protect that ending and know that when the last frames are shown that we have felt a completion. This might be why there has been such heavy criticisms over Episodes 7 and 8. The uncomfortable feeling of being incomplete and not knowing everything, having no home base to give a sense of direction, being lost in a familiar galaxy is too much to face. Is is possible that this is what this final trilogy of films is all about?

When we meet the character of Rey (Daisy Ridley) on Jakku, she is character in search of meaning, waiting for a resolve to a personal question. This personal question drives us through three films, finding its' resolve in The Rise of Skywalker. For myself, and maybe many others, is that this final trilogy was to be a resolve to characters previously established. When these films weren't delivering those goods and I was left to care about characters I didn't have thirty years or so to care about, I felt had. These feelings though embody the very ideas that The Rise of Skywalker brings to the narrative of the film. I wanted something I couldn't get and therefore I let my reactions to the films be based on what was not. There is a selfishness that has the ability to create a desire for absolute power, not only putting ourselves before others but forcing control over others. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) may very well be the embodiment of this type of selfishness but Rey is not without her own selfish desires. These desires create conflicts not only externally but also internally. Over the course of three films we see the conflict play out and try to understand the conflicts importance. What starts as a surface form of battle between two character in Episode 7 becomes more internalized in Episode 8 and perhaps more historical in Episode 9. How those conflicts are resolved can provide of us with some meaning to this final trilogy.

Throughout the Star Wars saga the idea of choosing ones path has been a constant. The various films have shown us the consequences of choices made. Whether Anakin (Hayden Christensen) choosing the dark side in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Lucas, 2005), or Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) turning on Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Marquand 1983) these choices bring a greater meaning to the character and who they become. The choice of good or evil is ever present and at times that choice seems to be ones destiny. The Rise of Skywalker seems to show us that destiny is transient. A choice does not need to define us and it's not too late to change the definitions self ascribed.

Across this world eyes will look upon a screen and see the end of a saga that allowed countless people to dream and imagine worlds fantastic but also familiar. A saga of films that shed light on what we value and reflect who we are, both light and dark. In The Rise of Skywalker C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) is asked a question, the character is shown in close-up looking, not only at characters off frame but at us, the audience. C-3PO reply's, "Taking one last look, sir. At my friends." And so we collectively return that look.